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The Role of the Amygdala in Entrepreneurship

The amygdala, whose functions range from pleasing to detrimental, is a critical part of the brain that triggers the sensation of excitement and drives entrepreneurs to stay motivated and focused. It plays a significant role in reward, punishment, and motivation processing as well as in our “out of the box” thinking. The amygdala is responsible for processing a range of emotions, ranging from pleasure to dread. It's responsible for our “out of the box” thinking and for dealing with emotions. It's also responsible for processing both positive and negative emotions. When we are anxious or stressed, the amygdala is activated, releasing hormones that help us respond to the situation. Dopamine, a hormone released in response to stress or exhilaration, is responsible for the feeling of success after accomplishing a task. It's the path to entrepreneurship.‍

Written by
June 15, 2022
The Role of the Amygdala in Entrepreneurship


Image Source: Pixabay

The amygdala has a bad reputation. The part of the brain that it usually refers to is responsible for our fight-or-flight response, an instinctual defense mechanism that triggers a rush of adrenaline and puts us on red alert when we feel threatened. These threats could come in the form of wild animals lurking about, or even fellow members of our species who pose a threat to our safety. If you’re anything like me, this probably sounds like a pretty bad thing – after all, isn’t it good that we have this part of our brain that tells us when someone might hurt us and makes us wary of them? Well, yes and no. While there are certainly some downsides to the fight-or-flight response (namely that it can be triggered unnecessarily and cause panic attacks), it’s also there for a reason – and more importantly, it’s ultimately what drives human beings to do the things we do. Our instincts to keep ourselves and others safe lead us – consciously or not – toward actions that help others and ourselves flourish long term.


What the Amygdala Does

The amygdala is a part of the limbic system in the brain that is responsible for a wide variety of functions including emotions, decision making, and memory formation. While the amygdala is often referred to as the “emotional brain,” it does not just produce emotions. Rather, it is responsible for processing all incoming stimuli, be they sensory, cognitive, or emotional. The amygdala also plays a big role in how we process information related to rewards, punishments, and motivation. It is heavily interconnected with other structures in the reward system and is responsible for regulating our response to motivation, stress, and emotions.


Why Is the Amygdala Important for Entrepreneurs?

The amygdala is responsible for the “fight-or-flight” instinct. As such, it is very important in the formation of new businesses. In fact, it is the drive to “fight or flee” that allows entrepreneurs to launch their own businesses. If you have ever considered starting your own business, you might have noticed that this is a very stressful time. With so many things on your to-do list and little time in the day to get them all done, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure about where to start. The amygdala is the reason for this. It creates a state of stress and anxiety in the body that is often referred to as “fight-or-flight” (also referred to as the “adrenaline rush”). This is a normal response in the body that is meant to help us react quickly in times of danger. This is good when you’re launching a business because it provides a motivational drive that helps you stay focused on the goals you have set for yourself.


How the Amygdala Drives Innovation

The amygdala is responsible for the “fight-or-flight” response, but it also plays a key role in the formation of new businesses. When we feel threatened by something, our natural instinct is to either fight against it or flee from it. When we are faced with a threat in business, it is our fight-or-flight instinct that helps us come up with creative and out-of-the-box solutions. This is because the amygdala is responsible for all of our “out of the box” thinking – the stuff that we do not normally do. As the amygdala is constantly looking for new ways to respond to threats, it is also constantly bubbling up new ideas to solve problems.


The Role of Emotions in Entrepreneurship

The amygdala is responsible for processing emotions, and when we experience strong emotions such as fear, anxiety, or excitement, the amygdala is the part of the brain that receives the signal and triggers the release of hormones in the body. When we get really excited about something – such as starting a new business – the amygdala is responsible for releasing dopamine and other hormones that give us that feeling of excitement and joy. This is the reason why starting a business can be so thrilling, but also extremely scary. The amygdala is also responsible for processing what we call “negative emotions” such as fear and anxiety. Although positive emotions typically have a more positive effect on the body than negative ones do, negative emotions can also have positive effects. When we experience fear and anxiety, the amygdala is triggered and releases hormones that help us respond to the situation. Given the role of the amygdala in entrepreneurship, we can conclude that these emotions can have a very positive effect when applied to entrepreneurship.


The Importance of the Dopamine Reward Pathway

The amygdala is responsible for the “fight-or-flight” response and therefore triggers the release of hormones that make us feel excited, motivated, and eager to solve problems. Dopamine, one of the hormones released when we experience stress or excitement, is responsible for these feelings. It helps us focus on the task at hand, be it starting a business or solving a problem. Dopamine is also responsible for cultivating the feeling of “being rewarded” after accomplishing a task. When we complete a goal, reach a milestone, or solve a problem, our brains release dopamine, making us feel rewarded for a job well done. This is the pathway that leads one to entrepreneurship. It is the reason why entrepreneurship feels rewarding – because we are constantly experiencing the release of dopamine as we strive to meet our business goals.


Bottom line

The amygdala is a fascinating part of the brain that has both positive and negative effects on the human body. Most importantly, it is responsible for triggering the feeling of excitement that helps entrepreneurs stay motivated and focused on the goals they have set for themselves. It also plays a big part in how we process information related to rewards, punishments, and motivation. The amygdala is responsible for all of our “out of the box” thinking, as well as processing emotions including both positive and negative ones. When we experience emotions such as fear and anxiety, the amygdala is triggered and releases hormones that help us respond to the situation. Dopamine, one of the hormones released when we experience stress or excitement, is responsible for the feelings of being rewarded after accomplishing a task. This is the pathway that leads one to entrepreneurship.

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